You Know You Can Do the Job. Does Your Resume?
After years of reviewing resumes and talking with job seekers, we've realized that one of the biggest reasons qualified candidates get overlooked isn't always experience. It's how that experience is presented.
It's one of the most common frustrations we hear from job seekers.
"I know I could do this job. Why didn't I even hear back?"
The truth is, there are often things happening behind the scenes that you'll never know about. Maybe there's an internal candidate. Maybe the position changed. Maybe another applicant's experience lined up just a little more closely. Whatever the reason, you rarely have the full picture.
So rather than trying to guess what happened, focus on the one thing you can control: presenting your experience as clearly and specifically as possible.
We know. It's extra work.
Tailoring your resume and cover letter for each application takes time, especially when you're applying to multiple positions. But in today's market, it's one of the most valuable things you can do.
The people reviewing your application aren't reading every resume cover to cover. They're scanning for evidence that you've already done the work they're hiring for. If they don't find those connections quickly, they move on.
Let's say a position requires experience with grant administration, budgeting, and Salesforce.
Your resume might say:
Managed multiple projects and supported organizational initiatives.
That may be completely accurate. But if you actually administered grants, managed budgets, and worked in Salesforce, say that.
For example:
Managed a portfolio of foundation grants, tracked grant budgets, prepared reports, and maintained records in Salesforce.
Better yet, add numbers that demonstrate the scope of your work.
Managed a portfolio of 12 foundation grants totaling more than $500,000, tracked grant budgets, prepared reports, and maintained records in Salesforce.
The second and third examples make it much easier for someone reviewing your resume to connect your experience to the position they're trying to fill.
The same idea applies whether you're an executive assistant, HR professional, accountant, fundraiser, program manager, or operations leader. Generic descriptions hide relevant experience. Specific descriptions help employers recognize it.
The same principle applies to your cover letter. A generic letter about being hardworking and excited for the opportunity doesn't tell the reader much. A short letter that clearly explains why your experience matches this role is far more effective.
Tailoring your application doesn't mean rewriting your career or stretching the truth. It means helping someone quickly understand that you've already done the work they're looking for.
Will it guarantee an interview?
No.
There are too many factors outside your control for anyone to promise that.
But it will give your application the best chance of making it past that first review. And in today's market, sometimes that's the difference between being overlooked and getting the interview.